The impossible task

[themiserychick]

How do you deal with this? I'm struggling so much to make myself finish writing a job application (not time restricted), a statement against criteria. I know I need to do it, but I just keep on not doing it. I feel overwhelmed when I manage to open the document and try to cobble my knowledge and experience into what they want. Feeling like a huge failure because I have to get back working, but I just can't get over the anxiety that I'm not good enough.

@themiserychick I can imagine it feels quite overwhelming. Both because of where you are with your self esteem and because just doing an exercise like this takes a lot out of you if you haven't done it anything like it for a while.

I returned to study this April after a break of not working/studying for a few years. I had to break it down for myself into really small manageable steps and start a bit at a time. Don't know if that helps but feeling your pain!

It might help you if, instead of focussing on finishing the task, you focus on starting it.

What I mean by that is, don’t set yourself a goal of finishing a particular section on the application form, but instead commit to doing 10 minutes on it, or 20 minutes, or whatever feels comfortable. Set a timer. Once the timer goes off, you can decide if you want to keep going, take a break or just leave the remainder of the task until another day. Any of those options are fine. All that matters is that you start.

I am a serious procrastinator myself. Breaking things down like this works for me most of the time. I try not to worry about how much I manage to get done in the time I’ve set, or how good the work is that I did. All that matters is that I start.

If my procrastination is even worse than normal, I try to work out what the reason behind that might be. You mention feeling like a failure. Filling in a job application can really trigger those kind of emotions, which makes it even harder to get started. Just being aware of the fact that trying to avoid negative feelings may be part of the reason why you are avoiding this kind of task can help make a difference.

Good luck!

Tell yourself that if you don’t succeed in getting any application completed then you stand zero chance of getting a job. Whereas if you at least manage to get something composed (even if it’s a bit clumsy) then at least you do stand some chance of getting a job….and who knows, you might be surprised and get THE job! Keep your sentences very short and simple, avoid very complex compound sentences as they completely messed up the mind! Bullet point if you can possibly get away with it. I wonder how many reviewers really bother to wade through a very hefty paragraph of dense complex text???

Do you have someone who would sit with you while you do it and help you draft it? I find that works well if I'm struggling with something like this.